This is the TDMST Weekly Round-Up of news affecting professional truck drivers, written by Vicki Simons for the week ending October 26, 2019.
We welcome your comments, thoughts and feedback on the items of your choice below.
News reports about the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's report have stated:
Our condolences go to the families of the truckers who have died on the job at any time.
In response to learning about this NHTSA report, I stated on Facebook:
"Isn't it interesting that this report came out **after** the deadline to submit comments to the FMCSA about the proposed change to the Hours of Service regulations?"
Of course, I referenced ELDs, the 2013 Hours of Service regulations, truck accidents seeming to increase over time since 2013, and even an experienced trucker couple who was killed in my comments to the FMCSA about the proposed Hours of Service regulations change.
{Sigh!}
According to an October 23, 2019, article out of Richmond, British Columbia, Canada:
"Drivers will again be 'Shifting into Winter' in B.C. and across Canada in the coming weeks, and for the 11th year, WorkSafeBC wants to remind truckers to be prepared before hitting the road."
The article covers such topics as:
"Cathy Cook, president of Safe Harbour Consulting, said psychological disorders and mental health issues are more prevalent in the trucking industry than in the general public", according to an October 23, 2019, article.
Among the things cited in the article were:
A survey that revealed that:
Furthermore, named health issues arose from:
You may read more about products that can help truckers with their mental health.
According to an October 24, 2019, article:
The North American Commercial Vehicle Show is embarking on the second year of the new biennial business to business trucking industry expo, and this year's event is expected to be bigger and more insight filled than than the last.
...
NACV takes place at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, Georgia, Oct. 28-31. For 2019, the exhibition hall has been expanded, with more than 470 exhibitors, including the top truck and trailer OEMs, with many making announcing and [showcasing] new products and services.
My husband Mike and I look forward to attending the NACV one day next week.
According to an October 23, 2019, article:
In a new statement of admission, the Unified Carrier Registration (UCR) Plan Board of Directors say its online National Registration System could have exposed a UCR registrant's Tax ID number or social security number for a period of 28 days in March 2019.
Twenty eight days!
The article further states: "... UCR says it has recently mailed out notices and is offering identity monitoring services to those impacted in 'an effort to prevent any further inconvenience.'"
Land Line Magazine stated that the number of motor carriers affected is "approximately 30,000"!
Identity theft is a very serious issue and I encourage you to take all steps necessary to protect yourself.
More about this security breach was written here, here, and here.
I also wonder why, after 7 months, this issue has just now been acknowledged publicly.
Hmm...
Gary Buchs, an owner-operator, wrote the following in an October 22, 2019, article:
Drivers and owners feeling the pressure thus try and negate revenue losses by driving more miles, more miles, more hours to balance income with the expenses. It's a vicious cycle, a dog chasing its tail. The more we drive, the more we dilute our own value even as we want to believe we're just one good week away from a return to what we imagine profits should be.
Separately, it has often been said by truckers not to haul "cheap freight", but then along comes a news report about what I call "cheap shipping".
According to an October 26, 2019, article:
"Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) is offering customized ground parcel delivery services for its select high-volume shippers at rates as low as $3 per parcel for shipments weighing up to 50 pounds and traveling significant lengths of haul, according to a person familiar with the program."
Hmm...
Two different reports show that selected truckers have not shown proper respect:
It may sound corny or old-fashioned, but the Golden Rule is still a good one to live by:
"Do unto others as you would have others do unto you."
When watching the video of a "trucker in a hurry" who used an "unusual" or "non-standard" way of "unloading some appliances at the scrap yard", I couldn't help but wonder about:
In my opinion, this trucker deserves a stern reprimand, if not a more severe disciplinary action.
According to an October 25, 2019, article, "TuSimple is committed to fielding a truly driverless commercial truck, and it has nearly $300 million in funding and a minority stake from UPS to help it get there."
Also, it's not bad enough that machines are being invented to take over truckers' work but that now we learn that "Scientists at University of Richmond have succeeded in teaching rats to drive tiny electric cars", thus making it seem as though operating a vehicle does not require much intelligence.
I want to encourage you to remember that:
I was glad to read that "Federal authorities have indicted five people in connection with an insurance fraud scheme involving a faked commercial vehicle crash in New Orleans."
Separately, some weeks back, I covered the "booting" of truck tires/wheels at a Walmart in Berea, Kentucky.
Now we learn that "A trio of Kentucky farmers [has taken] it upon themselves to wake up several sleeping truckers and warn them about a booting brigade at a local Walmart."
A TV station reported that "one of the men who took it upon himself to alert the sleeping drivers of what was happening" reported that the "security company" will "barely tap on the door, that way they know (the driver) won't wake up so they can boot them anyway".
More on this was written here.
I, for one, am grateful for these folks watching out for truckers -- and I hope that many more such folks will step forward to protect their fellow human beings from those who would exploit them.
Just to be on the safe side, avoid parking at the Berea, Kentucky, Walmart -- or any Walmart where truckers are not welcome to park.
Our heartiest congratulations go to Holland driver Robert "RB" Wolford who was honored by his trucking company "for achieving three million safe driving miles."
Woohoo! Way to go, RB!
Separately, the truckers who were brake-checked multiple times by a BMW driver deserve recognition for not letting the 4-wheeler engage them in an accident.
I sincerely hope that the dash cam video recording was turned over to law enforcement and that the BMW driver is dealt with appropriately for his road rage.
My husband Mike and I wish you -- and all professional truck drivers -- safe travels and lots of money saving opportunities on the road.
Return from TDMST Weekly Round-Up: 2019.10.26 to our TDMST Weekly Round-Up Trucking Commentary or our Truck Drivers Money Saving Tips home page.